Endocrine disruptors are one of the most common types of toxins. Fittingly named, they are a category of chemicals that disrupt the endocrine system, which is the parts of the body that deal with hormones. You've probably heard of one of these before, BPA, or bisphenol-A. There was a big movement a few years ago to remove these from baby products.
Hormones are chemicals that act as "messengers" throughout the body, regulating cell activity and giving directions. These directions can instruct pretty much anything in the body, so hormones control everything from your metabolism to your fertility. Endocrine disruptors mimic hormones in the body and confuse the endocrine system. For example, BPA mimics estrogen. If BPA enters your bloodstream, the endocrine system and body will see the BPA and react as if the BPA were estrogen. This can result in too much of the signal being sent and improper responses in the body, leading to altered processes. The endocrine system keeps track of the amount of each hormone in your body and releases or stops releasing that hormone based on what your body needs at the time, through signal pathways triggered by hormone binding, so endocrine disruptors can result in not enough production of the real hormone by binding where the hormone should have gone. Alternatively, BPA binding can trigger too much of the hormone to be produced if that pathway normally results in more hormone production. So, wherever the estrogen was meant to go won’t receive the message, or it will receive too much of the message, and the process it was controlling, in this case maybe egg follicle growth, won’t happen correctly or maybe not at all.
That’s not all endocrine disruptors do, either. Although they mainly imitate hormones, they can also block hormones' signaling to cells, direct cells to die before they’re supposed to, change the cell’s response to the hormone, directly increase or decrease some hormones’ production, bind to essential hormones (which in turn causes the hormone to be unable to send its message), build up in organs that make hormones, and more. Endocrine disruptors take a long time to break down, so often, these chemicals are stuck in the body for a while.
People are exposed to endocrine disruptors everywhere. They can be found in all kinds of ordinary products - plastic containers, water, soap, carpet, food, makeup, toys, and more – meaning most people encounter these daily and often. Endocrine disruptors can make their way into your body through skin contact, ingestion, and inhalation. A little of these can go a long way. Because the endocrine system is so sensitive, and even small amounts of hormones affect bodily processes in big ways, not much is needed to upset the delicate balance of human hormones and everything affected by them (all of your body!). Much of the exposure that causes permanent changes occurs during pregnancy when a fetus is first forming, as even tiny amounts of endocrine disruptors trigger abnormalities in the more delicate, constantly replicating cells. Then, bodies continue to be disrupted through childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Every exposure adds up and makes a difference, and damage can be spread through generations. A female fetus grows her eggs in utero. This means your grandmother’s toxin exposure during her pregnancy went into the egg that eventually made you.
Endocrine disruptors are linked to a huge assortment of problems, including lower sperm quality and fertility, endometriosis, issues in pregnancy (miscarriage, premature birth, fetal abnormalities, etc.), immune function, early or delayed puberty, abnormalities in sex organs, many types of cancer, metabolism shifts, issues in the nervous system, respiratory problems, brain damage, learning disabilities, diabetes, mood disorders, altered tissue function, thyroid problems, obesity, heart problems, altered growth and development, and more. Given that they deal with hormones, and hormones affect the whole body, these chemicals can essentially wreak havoc everywhere, with an emphasis on reproductive problems. More research is continuing to be done on endocrine disruptors to learn more about the harmful effects on the body, where they are, and how we can avoid them.
Some of the most common types of endocrine disruptors are as follows:
BPA. This chemical most often mimics sex hormones. BPA has been linked to a multitude of health concerns, including breast, uterine, prostate, and other cancers, brain damage, heart disease, reproductive issues, slowed or quickened growth and development, learning disabilities, abnormal sex organs, lower sperm count, miscarriages, ADHD, thyroid damage, early puberty, and obesity. It’s most commonly found in various plastic products, such as water bottles, toys, baby teethers, and eyeglasses, as well as on receipts and canned food. By the way, if something says it’s BPA-free, don’t be fooled. Many products advertise this now because people know about the dangers of BPA, and companies want to make a product seem safer than it is, but just because it’s BPA-free doesn’t mean it’s safe. BPS (bisphenol-S) as well as other chemicals are often included in “BPA-free” products as replacements, but they have just-as-harmful health effects. In one study, products that claimed to be BPA-free still tested positive for other estrogenic chemicals. Unfortunately, according to government testing, 93% of Americans have BPA in their bodies - it's even been found in human blood, amniotic fluid, urine, and breast milk. Children metabolize BPA slower, so they’re particularly susceptible to the dangerous health effects.
Perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs). Perfluorochemicals are so widespread and extraordinarily persistent that 99% of Americans have these chemicals in their bodies. A major one called PFOA never breaks down, at all. PFOA exposure has been linked to lower sperm quality, changes in sex hormone levels, thyroid and kidney disease, high cholesterol, and decreased birth weight, among other problems. It’s commonly found in non-stick pans and stain-and water-resistant coatings on clothes, furniture, and carpets.
Dioxins. These are created during manufacturing processes in which chlorine or bromine is burned with carbon and oxygen. Because they’re so commonly produced and released into the environment, dioxins have spread into animal products like fish, dairy products, and meat, but you can reduce exposure by eating vegan more frequently. Dioxins are bioaccumulative (accumulate in human and animal bodies), move through the food chain, are carcinogens (cause cancer), damage the immune and both male and female reproductive systems, and last awhile within a body or in the environment. They also disrupt sex hormone signaling. Fetal and infant exposure to even small amounts of dioxin can harm male fertility by lowering sperm count and quality, and dioxins have been shown to pass through the placenta and breastmilk, if the toxin is in the parent’s body.
Phthalates. It’s completely normal for around a million cells in the human body to die every second (and be replenished). However, these toxins cause “death-inducing signaling” in young, healthy cells, especially in the testes, making them die early. They’re found in most plastics (because they make plastic flexible), candles, perfumes, makeup, and cleaning products, so you’re likely coming into contact with them often. People are mostly exposed through food because soft, phthalate-filled plastic is used in food production, processing, and packaging. They do the most damage in males, lowering testosterone levels, which disrupts not only the reproductive system, but the whole body. For females, they increase the risk of early puberty, premature ovarian failure, miscarriage, and premature birth. Phthalates cause hormone shifts, obesity, lower sperm count and less mobile sperm, diabetes, thyroid changes, ADHD, and male reproductive birth defects. Studies have also shown phthalates to cause liver and kidney damage, abnormalities and diseases in fetuses, cancer, cognitive or behavioral problems, diabetes, allergies, and asthma. A recent study from October 2021 also found that phthalates are linked to premature death, especially by heart problems.
Glycol Ethers. These chemicals can cause a decrease in sperm count and the size of the testes, asthma, blood irregularities, damage to a fetus’ fertility, and allergies. They’re often found in paint, beauty and cleaning products, and brake fluid.
Perchlorate. This toxin competes with iodine. The thyroid gland needs iodine to make its hormones, which control metabolism in adults and brain and organ development in babies and small children. When perchlorate is in your system, the thyroid won’t have enough iodine to balance metabolism correctly, which leads to many problems such as heart disease, diabetes, and unhealthy weight loss or gain. Perchlorate is found in water, a majority of produce, and milk. In drinking water, you can reduce perchlorate exposure by using a reverse osmosis filter. Ensure that you are remineralizing your water if the filter you choose removes essential nutrients and minerals. Eating organic foods, especially produce, can help lower levels too, but perchlorate contamination is widespread and sometimes unavoidable. Make sure you are including plenty of iodine in your diet, iodized salt, for example, to help prevent thyroid hormone imbalance.
Atrazine. This is a toxin commonly found in weedkillers that has spread into water, land, and food. Atrazine has been linked to breast cancer, prostate inflammation and cancer, shorter pregnancies, altered menstrual cycles, increased cancer risk, and delayed puberty. It’s also been able to transform male frogs into female ones with fertile eggs. Atrazine has widely contaminated drinking water (over 800 water systems in 19 states at unsafe levels in 2015) and although this pollution complied with U.S. regulations, it was found to be 20 times over a “goal” amount determined by scientists, though arguably, no amount is safe. Luckily for Europeans, atrazine has been banned since 2003 because of water contamination regulations, but in the U.S., the federal government hasn’t really placed restrictions that make a difference.
Fire retardants. Fire retardants contain persistent (extremely long-lasting) endocrine disruptors. The different chemicals affect the body in different ways, but one of the main ones is, again, thyroid hormone interference. This can cause problems in the heart, muscles, digestive system, brain, and bones. Contamination is already widespread. Swedish scientists found PBDEs, a type of flame retardant, in breastmilk, and the levels have been doubling every five years since 1972. This is especially scary because that means babies, in delicate developing stages, are taking in endocrine disruptors, which could harm their brains, hearts, and endocrine systems. They’ve also been found in animals around the world, and they’re probably already in you, since this toxin is so persistent, widespread, and easily passed down. It’s practically impossible to avoid, but looking for flame-retardant-free products such as furniture, mattresses, and baby products, and ones that use organic materials if possible, can help limit direct exposure in your home. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter, because flame retardant chemicals are found in dust, try not to reupholster furniture, and if you do, go outside and let the internal areas air out before working to avoid some of the initial off-gassing, and be careful changing out old carpet (the padding underneath could have flame retardant toxins).
Arsenic. This toxin is found in your food and drinking water. Arsenic causes bladder, skin, and lung cancer. And, it disrupts hormones in the glucocorticoid system, which helps the immune system, reduces inflammation, and regulates the body’s carbohydrate processing. This leads to unhealthy weight gain or loss, diabetes, osteoporosis, growth delays, immunosuppression, high blood pressure, and protein wasting.
Endocrine disruptors are one of the main types of toxins, so choosing low-tox products is one of the best ways to avoid them. Look for safer personal care and cleaning products, as these are often where they’re found. Eating organic can help avoid pesticides and additional plastics used in growing food, and getting a water filter can remove endocrine disruptors from water. Avoid plastic in general as much as you can (for example, don’t use plastic water bottles or tupperware), never microwave it, and try to avoid the dishwasher too. Heat will “loosen” endocrine disruptors and cause them to leach (think of leaching as bleeding toxins) into your food and water. BPA is found in receipts and canned food linings, so avoid those if you can too.
Remember that even small steps can make a huge difference!
Thank you for the information!